A heartbroken widow has revealed how giving birth to her late husband’s baby has given her ‘incredible comfort’, 15 months after he died from cancer.
Julie Wilson, 36, from Cleveland, Ohio, decided she was ready to become a single mother a year after the loss of her husband, Travis, 45, in February 2019, using embryos fertilised with his sperm during treatment.
Now a mother to Logan, eight months, Julie said: ‘After the pain and devastation that came with losing Travis, it is indescribable that 15 months later I have a little piece of him back in my arms again.’
Julie Wilson, 36, (pictured) from Cleveland, Ohio, has revealed the birth of her daughter Logan, eight months, has brought her comfort following the death of her her husband
Julie and Travis who married in 2012 (pictured), struggled with fertility issues when they began trying for a family
In 2016, Julie suffered a miscarriage at 12 weeks and Travis was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer after a large tumor was discovered. Pictured: Travis with a picture of their embryos
‘It is incredible. He was my best friend and we had always wanted children. I’m so sad he missed out on all of this, but I see him in Logan every single day.’
Julie and Travis hit it off immediately when they met through work in 2007.
Having always discussed starting a family, they got married in 2012 and began trying for a baby.
Julie said: ‘We made each other better people, we complimented each other perfectly.’
After struggling with fertility issues, Julie fell pregnant in 2016 but unfortunately suffered a miscarriage at 12 weeks.
The devastation that year continued when Travis was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer after a large tumor was discovered.
Julie says that they were told that only five per cent of patients survive beyond five years, and a majority of patients with the same diagnosis die within two years.
Julie and Travis (pictured) were told that only five per cent of patients with brain cancer survive beyond five years
Julie said Travis’s diagnoses was crushing and they knew from the start that he would probably not be around for all of the things they had planned to do. Pictured: Logan at one day old
She continued: ‘We knew from the start that he probably wasn’t going to be around for all of the things we had planned to do. Receiving Travis’ diagnosis was crushing and overwhelming.
‘We had our whole lives planned together and in an instant, I was told my husband isn’t going to be here and I will be a widow by the age of 35.
‘He always remained insanely positive and we prayed that he would be in that small group that beat this. He underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.’
After his diagnosis, the couple decided to pursue the IVF process in an attempt to have a baby before he passed away.
Julie said Travis (pictured) always remained insanely positive and they prayed he would be in the small group of people to beat the disease
The couple pursued the IVF process in an attempt to have a baby before Travis passed away. Pictured: Logan
Travis’s (pictured) sperm was banked before he began any of his cancer treatment, which included surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy
They banked his sperm before he began any of his cancer treatments to ensure that it wouldn’t be affected by the treatments.
Julie said: ‘We had two embryo transfers while Travis was alive, but sadly they were unsuccessful.
‘He was so excited about the prospect of becoming a father, it would have meant so much to be able to conceive while he was here so that he could be a part of it all.
‘I had shown him pictures of our embryos before he passed away and he joked by saying they looked just like him.
‘He had also picked out names, but assured me it was okay if I needed to change them if they didn’t suit the baby when I met them.’
Julie revealed they had two embryo transfers (pictured) while Travis was alive, but sadly they were unsuccessful
Julie said Travis was excited about the prospects of becoming a father and picked out names for their child. Pictured: Travis after brain surgery
Julie showed Travis photographs of their embryos before his death in 2019, with him joking that they looked just like him. Pictured: Julie’s scan when she was pregnant with twins
Sadly, in February 2019 Travis passed away.
Julie still had five embryos left that she had created with her husband, meaning there was still a chance for her to become a mother with their child.
She said: ‘I got myself together and thought about what I wanted next for myself.
‘I realized that I still wanted children, even if it meant being a single mother.
‘I went in for a double embryo transfer, and in October 2019 I had a positive pregnancy test.
Julie decided that she still wanted children and tested pregnant in October 2019, after a double embryo transfer. Pictured: Julie and Travis on their wedding day
Julie said she didn’t want to get too excited because she had previously had a miscarriage. Pictured: Julie during her pregnancy
Julie who discovered she was pregnant with twins at her six-week scan, suffered the loss of one at 12-weeks. Pictured: Julie with her daughter Logan
‘I was overjoyed, but after previously losing a baby through miscarriage I didn’t want to get too excited.
‘At my six-week scan, I found out I was pregnant with twins as we heard two heartbeats.
‘But sadly my 12-week scan revealed that one of the twins hadn’t made it and had died.
‘It was such a painful reality, knowing there was another baby there, but I continued to hope for the best with the remaining baby.
‘I was cautiously optimistic throughout my pregnancy. I was very excited and extremely hopeful.
Julie said she hoped for the best for her remaining baby and was ‘cautiously optimistic’ throughout her pregnancy. Pictured: Julie and Travis
Julie who gave birth to Logan (pictured) on May 9 2020, didn’t tell many people about her pregnancy until she made it to the second trimester
‘I didn’t tell many people until I made it to the second trimester.’
On May 9 2020, Julie gave birth to her daughter, Logan.
She says that Logan is the best thing that has happened to her.
She added: ‘Being a single mother has its challenges, especially during a pandemic, and ideally there would have been two of us here to do this together.
‘But it has been so worth it. I know this is what I was meant to do next in life.
‘Travis would absolutely adore Logan.
Julie who has set up an organisation in her husband’s name, said she hopes Logan (pictured) develops all the best parts of Travis as she gets older
‘I see him in her every single day.
‘I see him in her little smiles and expressions. It melts my heart that she looks so much like her dad.
‘I pray that as she gets older, her personality develops to include all of the best parts of him, too.’
Julie has set up an organisation in her husband’s name to support other families who are impacted by a brain cancer diagnosis.
Visit: trailsfortravis.org